I have had GERD for over 20 years.Over the years, I have taken, Prilosec and, most recently Nexium.I seldom have burning now.

I do get what feels like a bubble in my esophagus.It hurts, but does not burn. It hurts VERY, VERY bad. Sometimes it feels like a basketball. At first, I took all sorts of antacids to try to rid myself of the pain. Many times that would work. At times, I had to resort to taking baking soda (last resort).

One day I was out with no antacids and only a bottle of plain water.I started gulping the water.It worked!Every since then when I get the bubble, I swig 6 or 7 gulps of water and viola, the bubble is gone.

I have not been able to tie the problem to any particular thing, such as food or stress.I have had it during the day, while I was answering email, while I was at a movie, in my sleep at night.

I have not been happy with my GI doctor and plan to ask my primary care doc to recommend a different one.This one has no clue what to do for heartburn.He just keeps adding different meds.

I would like to get off of Nexium because I have been taking it for over 10 years.

You could have a stricture in your esophagus that is causing this. I've had chest pain with GERD for about 20 years. I've been on all the PPIs at one time or another. Last week my Gastro doc did an endoscopy and dilated my esophagus; now the pain is definitly reduced and I don't feel like I have something stuck in my throat as much.You probably should see a gastroenterologist about it.